Colonial
Williamsburg brings you "Revolutionary City," a
dynamic 90-minute event that reflects Williamsburg's role in one of America's
defining historical periods. Each day, the east end of the Historic Area comes alive as you
become a part of the town's activities.Daily Schedule
Mondays, 3:30-4:50
Building a Nation
Preachers, house servants, farmers, actors, and artisans - both enslaved and free - were architects of a new nation no less than General Washington, Governor Jefferson, or Governor Henry. Meet the men and women who helped shape their times. See how their lives, like our own, are affected by the promises of the Declaration of Independence, whether realized or unfulfilled.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 3:30-5:00
Collapse of Royal Government, 1774-1776
Events that occurred in Williamsburg were pivotal to the evolution of Virginians from subjects of a distant monarch to citizens of a self-governing republic. These events led Virginians to declare that the colonies were no longer under British rule but free and independent United States of America. Witness the difficult choices facing the townspeople.
- 3:30: Enemies of Government, Governor Dunmore Confronts the Assembly! May 26, 1774
- 3:50: The Gale from the North. April 29, 1775
- 4:00: A House Divided. July 27, 1775
- 4:10: To Be or Not . . . The Love Story Conclusion
- 4:20: A Court of Tar and Feathers - September 3, 1775
- 4:45: Liberty to Slaves! November 17, 1775
- 5:00: Resolved: Free and Independent States. May 15, 1776
Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays, 3:30-5:05
Citizens at War 1776-1781
Many tests and trials befall the people of Williamsburg as they create a new self-governing society. Several key events move the people of Virginia toward founding a new democratic republic. Join us for Revolutionary City and experience the turmoil and challenges that confront the citizens of Virginia while creating a new society and government in the midst of war.
- 3:30: A Declaration of Independence! July 25, 1776
- 3:50: The War in the West, June 18, 1779
- 4:10: In Desperate Circumstance! September 15, 1780
- 4:25: The Town Is Taken! The British Occupy Williamsburg, April 20, 1781
- 4:40: Running to Freedom! July 4, 1781
- 4:50: The Promised Land, or A Matter of Faith, September 28, 1781
- 5:05: On to Yorktown and Victory! September 28, 1781
Daily: Revolutionary Stories
The road to independence was not a straight and narrow path, but one with many twists and turns. Who were the players in Williamsburg's revolutionary drama? What conflicts and narratives set the stage for the stories that play out in Revolutionary City? Consult "Colonial Williamsburg This Week," your weekly program guide, to find the times and locations for Revolutionary Stories.
Nightly: Revolutionary City After Dark
The Revolution doesn't stop at sundown. Consult the daily listings in "Colonial Williamsburg This Week" for evening programs related to Williamsburg's role in the quest for independence.
FAQs
When is the program and how often does it run?
What's going on elsewhere in the Historic Area during "Revolutionary City"?
Related Multimedia
Video
Slideshows
Audio Podcasts
Interview: Researching Revolutionary Citizens
Interview: An Actor in the Revolutionary City
Daily Schedule
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The Revolution Takes Center Stage
3:30: Raleigh TavernEven while public performances were banned by the Continental Congress, the theater continued to delight audiences and influence the political and social climates of the new American nation.
Related links
Colonial Theater -
That Freedom Ain't for Me
4:00: Coffeehouse backyardLydia Broadnax or Eve Randolph discusses the impact of the Declaration of Independence on their lives.
Lydia Broadnax is a slave in the household of George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence and mentor to Virginia's patriots. She frequently hears about liberty and equality, yet she knows these rights do not extend to her.
Eve is a slave of Elizabeth Randolph, widow of Peyton Randolph, president of the first two Continental Congresses and speaker of Virginia's House of Burgesses. Less patient than Lydia, she flees with her son and is captured and then sold.
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Lady Washington Visits the Capitol
4:15: Capitol, south sideMartha Washington arrives in Williamsburg to great fanfare and celebration. She receives honors in her husband's name for his service to "The Glorious Cause" of American liberty.
Martha Washington spends much of the Revolutionary War in camp with her husband, General George Washington, and his army. As a mother, plantation mistress, slave owner, and military wife, she feels deeply responsible for the less fortunate.
Related links
Martha Washington -
Thy Rod and Thy Staff
4:30: Coffeehouse backyardPastor Gowan Pamphlet, a former slave, discusses his vision for the black Baptist church he leads. He gains recognition for his congregation even as the shadow of slavery puts them all at risk.
Related links
Gowan Pamphlet -
Looking Forward: A Founding Father Envisions the Future of the American Republic
4:50: Raleigh TavernOne of Virginia's leading patriots sums up his experiences in Williamsburg and expresses his hopes for the future of the young republic.
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Enemies of Government, Governor Dunmore Confronts the Assembly! May 26, 1774
3:30: Capitol, west sideLord Dunmore arrives at the Capitol unhappy with the House of Burgesses for their protesting the closing of Boston Harbor by the British government.
In May 1773, Parliament passes the Tea Act to assist the financially tottering East India Company. The act provides that the Company could sell tea at temptingly low rates in America.
In December 1773, a group of Bostonians disguised as Indians board a ship in Boston Harbor, dumping the Company's tea overboard. Parliament then passes the Boston Port Act, closing Boston Harbor.
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The Gale from the North. April 29, 1775
3:50: Raleigh TavernAs Peyton Randolph prepares to return to Philadelphia, a rider brings news of battles at Lexington and Concord.
On April 21, 1775, Lord Dunmore orders seamen from the schooner Magdalen to remove gunpowder from the Magazine in a pre-dawn raid. They retreat when townspeople intercede.
Angry citizens gather at the courthouse and threaten to storm the Palace until Peyton Randolph and other city fathers form a delegation to visit the governor.
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A House Divided. July 27, 1775
4:00: Wig shopLoyalist Ariana Randolph and her daughter Susannah navigate their way through the gossip-riddled town.
Mr. Randolph's loyalty to the British king is making their lives uncomfortable. Edmund, the only son of the family, falls squarely on the patriot side.
Teenaged Susannah is upset by the townspeople's whispers and speculation. Mrs. Randolph hints that the solution may be to leave Virginia, the only home Susannah has ever known.
Related links
The Randolphs: A Family of Influence -
To Be or Not . . . The Love Story Conclusion
4:10: Raleigh TavernThe love that Edmund Randolph and Elizabeth Nicholas share for each other has survived the turmoil of an intense family feud.
His father is steadfastly loyal to the British king. Her father is firmly patriotic. Can their love now endure the prospect of war for American independence?
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A Court of Tar and Feathers - September 3, 1775
4:20: Raleigh TavernThe men who are prepared to defend American liberty are bound together by the ties of honor and love of country. Challengers can face tar and feathering.
"Liberty poles," symbols of freedom and serving as rallying points for American patriots, are erected in colonial towns.
Such a pole, including a bag of feathers and a barrel of tar, are set up in Williamsburg opposite the Raleigh Tavern. Williamsburg merchant Joshua Hardcastle is introduced to such intimidation while drinking at a tavern.
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Liberty to Slaves! November 17, 1775
4:45: Coffeehouse backyardAs Kate, Eve, and others meet to confront the issues of slavery, news arrives that could change their futures. What does Dunmore's Proclamation really mean for the enslaved?
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Resolved: Free and Independent States. May 15, 1776
5:00: Capitol, south sideVirginia's leaders take the bold first step in breaking from Great Britain by passing resolutions for independence. They must now establish a republican form of government.
The Virginia Convention unanimously adopts a resolution instructing the colony's delegates to introduce a motion for independence. A committee is appointed to draft a declaration of rights and a Virginia state constitution.
Virginian Richard Henry Lee moves "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, ... and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
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A Declaration of Independence! July 25, 1776
3:30: Capitol, west sideThe Declaration of Independence is read to the citizens of Williamsburg. This news arrives only a few weeks after Virginia's representatives have adopted their own Declaration of Rights and a Constitution for the new state.
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The War in the West, June 18, 1779
3:50: Coffeehouse backyardHenry Hamilton, the British governor of Detroit, is being held in the Public Gaol. The charges are vague and no evidence has been supplied. Hamilton resents being treated as a common prisoner, without the usual provisions allowed for officers and prisoners of war.
On February 23, 1779, American Colonel George Rogers Clark seizes the Illinois town of Vincennes, capturing British Lieutenant Henry Hamilton. Hamilton and 23 prisoners are sent to Williamsburg.
Because Hamilton is rumored to have offered bounties to Indians for the scalps of frontier men and women, Governor Thomas Jefferson treats him as a common criminal, placing him in chains and close confinement. Hamilton insists he is entitled to the rights of a prisoner of war.
Related links
Williamsburg's Publick Gaol -
In Desperate Circumstance! September 15, 1780
4:10: Raleigh TavernBarbry Hoy, a local woman who followed her husband southward with the army, returns to Williamsburg. Her husband Alexander was captured in the siege at Charleston, and she now seeks work at the King's Arms Tavern. She tells the story of the Americans' grim defeats.
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The Town Is Taken! The British Occupy Williamsburg, April 20, 1781
4:25: Capitol, south sideThe American turncoat, British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, and Major General William Phillips seize Williamsburg. Redcoats raise the British flag over the Capitol and announce the rules of occupation.
Disillusioned with the American cause, Benedict Arnold thinks true liberty can only be secured by rejoining the British Empire. With 1,500 soldiers, he invades Virginia, winding up in Richmond.
The forces swell to 3,500 when Arnold joins British Major General William Phillips. Together, the men occupy Williamsburg for two days. Before leaving, Arnold calls on the townspeople to renew their allegiance to their king.
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Running to Freedom! July 4, 1781
4:40: Coffeehouse backyardAs Lord Cornwallis and the British army prepare to leave Williamsburg, Eve and other enslaved people prepare to leave with them. Can she be convinced not to run? Or will Eve proceed to join the more than 600 former slaves who left their rebel masters in the Carolinas to follow the British to northward?
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The Promised Land, or A Matter of Faith, September 28, 1781
4:50: Coffeehouse backyardAn African American Baptist preacher talks about the future in a new society where citizens are equal and there is no state church. A young soldier confronts him with questions of faith in the face of war.
Gowan Pamphlet is heartened by the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights. Article 16 of the Declaration began to move Virginia away from toleration of religious groups and toward the free exercise of religion.
Gowan applauds the idea of religion disentangled from government, but white Virginians associate slave religion with rebellion and continue to pass laws to control slave gatherings.
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On to Yorktown and Victory! September 28, 1781
5:05: Raleigh TavernGeneral George Washington addresses his troops and the citizens of Williamsburg as he prepares to leave for Yorktown.
Washington's troops and the Comte de Rochambeau's French forces march from New York to Virginia. In August, a French fleet with 3,000 troops arrives at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, positioned to trap British troops commanded by Lord Cornwallis.
Washington reaches Williamsburg, a few miles from Yorktown, in mid-September, and prepares his troops to march to besiege Cornwallis.
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What is Revolutionary City?
Colonial Williamsburg's "Revolutionary City" is a family-friendly, live, dramatic program that breaks the boundaries of traditional living history experiences. It covers the period of 1774 to 1781 through a combination of large-scale streetscape events and multiple simultaneous vignettes. The program creates a spontaneous real-time feel of Williamsburg during the years of the American Revolution. Guests take part in the everyday life of the city against the backdrop of momentous world-changing events.
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What will guests see?
Guests may encounter Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, or Patrick Henry and will likely meet lesser-known figures, such as Alexander Hoy, a poor man who enlisted in the army and was captured at Charleston; Eve and a group of enslaved African Americans debating whether to find their own freedom by escaping to the British; and, Gowan Pamphlet, a black Baptist preacher who talks about his hopes for the future when all citizens are equal and there is no official state religion.
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When is the program and how often does it run?
"Revolutionary City" takes place primarily outdoors for about two hours daily in a managed-access section of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area. From June 15 to August 30, "Revolutionary City" is presented from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30pm. During the rest of the year, it is scheduled between 3-5 p.m (excluding certain holiday periods).
Each day of programming represents a distinct revolutionary time period. Collapse of Royal Government focuses on Virginia's transformation from servant of a distant monarch to an independent republic. Citizens at War illustrates the challenges of a new self-governing society against the backdrop of war. Nation Builders introduces the individuals whose inspired ideals and visions are embodied in the promises of the Declaration of Independence.
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Should I see "Nation Builders," "Collapse of the Royal Government" and "Citizens at War" in sequence?
Revolutionary City programs stand alone in their unique storytelling and dramatic presentation. Select from the diverse combination of scenes and programming to weave together your own experience, making "Revolutionary City" an event to be enjoyed time and time again.
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Where is it?
Located in the east end of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area, "Revolutionary City" will be presented primarily in and around the buildings on Duke of Gloucester Street in a four-block area bounded by the Capitol on the east, Botetourt Street on the west, and Francis and Nicholson streets on the south and north.
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What is managed access?
"Revolutionary City" is outdoor theater. Just as you expect an environment free of distractions when you attend any theatrical presentation, we want to create an environment that provides a rich and engaging experience between the actor-interpreters and the guests. Managed access simply means that, for two hours, a designated portion of the Historic Area is dedicated to "Revolutionary City" so that street activities and the interaction of the actor-interpreters and guests present an authentic 18th-century experience.
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How do I get in?
A Colonial Williamsburg general admission ticket, a Good Neighbor pass, or a College of William and Mary student ID will serve as your passport to experience "Revolutionary City". Also, admission is included in the Revolutionary City Adventure Package offered by the official hotels of Colonial Williamsburg.
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Where do I buy tickets?
Purchase tickets for entrance to Revolutionary City, trade shops, historic buildings, and special performances at the following locations: the Visitor Center, the Ticket Office on North Henry Street (across from Merchants Square), and the Lumber House Ticket Office (next to Greenhow Store on Duke of Gloucester Street). Some programs and times are subject to change; please check Colonial Williamsburg This Week upon arrival.
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What's going on elsewhere in the Historic Area during "Revolutionary City"?
Outside "Revolutionary City" boundaries, Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area continues to operate during the presentation hours, providing exhibition site and trade shop experiences, along with a range of shopping, dining, and other activities for guests. Programs throughout the Historic Area reference and reinforce the events depicted in "Revolutionary City." Activities at all historic sites emphasize citizen participation at the heart of democracy, as it is in the heart of America today.
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Why is "Revolutionary City" important?
The significant events that played out in Williamsburg were directly related to the establishment of the American republic and essential to the creation of our form of government. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is committed to connecting 21st-century guests to the American Revolution in meaningful ways and, in doing so, contributing to sustaining the American experiment.
Our programs are based on historical research and accuracy. Momentous events of the colonial period happened in the very place where guests walk today. Streets will come alive as the townspeople and guests participate in the dramatic events that led to independence, the creation of a new kind of society, and the winning of the war. This is the story of our struggle to become a nation - from subjects to citizens. "Revolutionary City" is a uniquely American story. We look forward to sharing it with the nation and the world.
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Seasonal schedule changes
Revolutionary City moves to cooler morning hours for the summer season beginning Monday, June 15. The two-hour dramatic presentation will run from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. every day in the Historic Area near the Capitol for ticketed guests. Starting Monday, August 31, the presentation will resume afternoon hours from 2-4 p.m.
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Video: Revolutionary City
View a video clip of Revolutionary City- Watch video (Quicktime, 6Mb)
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Slideshow: Revolutionary City
from the Autumn 2006 Journal -
Slideshow: Revolutionary City
from the Spring 2006 Journal -
Interview: Colonial Theater
Todd Norris talks about Colonial Williamsburg's live performances, staged in the streets of Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area as often as in its theaters.- Audio (MP3, 3.2Mb)
- Image enhanced (AAC, 3.4Mb)
- Transcript
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Interview: Researching Revolutionary Citizens
Actor-interpreter Corrine Dame talks about the continual research necessary to give a living and accurate portrayal of Williamsburg's 18th-century citizens.- Audio (MP3, 3.3Mb)
- Image enhanced (AAC, 3.7Mb)
- Transcript
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Interview: An Actor in the Revolutionary City
Melanie Collins answers the question, “Are you hot in those clothes?” and many more as she talks about the spark she finds each day as an actor-interpreter in Revolutionary City.- Audio (MP3, 2.9Mb)
- Image enhanced (AAC, 3.3Mb)
- Transcript
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Interview: Bill Weldon on Revolutionary City
Bill Weldon believes portraying events on the same ground where they took place 230 years ago allows guests to experience history in a unique way.
- Audio (MP3, 3.3Mb)
- Transcript
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Interview: Marquis de Lafayette
Mark Schneider portrays French general Marquis de Lafayette, whose passion for the cause of freedom helped America win liberty from British rule.
- Audio (MP3, 2.7Mb)
- Transcript